YOUNGSTOWN, OH -When hockey fans think of collegiate hockey they often think of the NCAA and its varsity hockey teams. Approximately 3400 players skate for NCAA sanctioned men and women’s teams. There is however a much larger segment of college hockey that has experienced phenomenal growth over the 20 years since it was first organized. The American Collegiate Hockey Association sponsors both regular season play and stages a series of playoffs and national championship tournaments in all of its classifications. The teams recruit and attract former junior and high school players who want to continue to play hockey while going to college. PHN recently had the chance to speak with Brian Moran, a former D-1 ACHA player at Eastern Michigan University who is the Commissioner of the 61 men’s teams skating in the D-1 classification this season. Moran also serves as Commissioner for three ACHA leagues the Central States Collegiate Hockey League, the Great Lakes Collegiate Hockey League, and the Eastern States Collegiate Hockey League. He gave PHN an overview of the organization, structure and growth of the ACHA. Moran noted that “the ACHA has over 10,500 hundred players wearing the colors of our member universities and colleges. They play on USA Hockey registered teams all across the USA. Currently we have 370 men’s teams and 50 women’s teams as members of the ACHA. They skate in three men’s divisions D-1, D-2 and D-3 while 50 women’s teams skate in two divisions. In other words of the approximately 15,900 men and women playing collegiate hockey in the US two-thirds play in the ACHA.” Name a US university or college and most likely even in the Deep South there is a club team representing the school. Places not usually associated with ice hockey such as the University of Texas, Louisiana State University, the Citadel in South Carolina and the University of Tennessee all ice teams in various ACHA leagues in multiple geographical areas. Out west such schools as the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Central Oklahoma and Minot State University have traditionally strong men’s teams. Importantly, ACHA club hockey is a major part of the sports scene on many campuses with games at schools such as Iowa State, Illinois, Ohio University, Penn State, Liberty, Delaware, and Rhode Island and other locations drawing large crowds to their on campus ice-rinks. The ACHA also offers serious competition. The member clubs must be made up of students who must carry specific classroom workloads, have USA Hockey certified coaches, access to trainers and meet a variety of financial and other stability tests to remain members of the organization. P layer fees, gate receipts, school subsidies and fund raising all play a big part in covering team budgets which may run between $50,000 and $100,000 per season in some locations. Sources of funding vary but increasingly schools see the fact that a club team can attract 20-30 players, add to the quality of life for students and of course add to the school’s tuition revenue base. In speaking with a number of current players they made it clear that the availability of club hockey was part of their selection criteria when deciding on where to attend school. Just as colleges play intersectional games in most sports so do ACHA teams. For example during a recent weekend Arizona State played a weekend series at Iowa State. Meanwhile in Youngstown, Ohio an annual D-1 Showcase event featured teams from all over the US in a wall-to-wall three day event. D-1 teams play between 40 and 50 games a season including league and regional playoffs and the National Championship Tournament. The ACHA also sponsors an annual All-Star game to showcase and reward its top players. There are seven D-1 leagues across the US and additional teams play in D-1 as independents. The ACHA also selects a National University Team from member clubs to represent the US in the International Ice Hockey Federation sponsored World University Games each year. Last year’s games were held in China and in 2011 the event which includes a number of winter sports including hockey is scheduled to be held in Turkey. “Importantly our young men and women learn valuable lessons in business and management” said Moran. “Each team is responsible for meeting the ACHA standards in terms of financial viability, team structure and performance. While programs are sometimes located within the school structure in other places the core team members set and manage budgets, hire coaches, arrange travel and act as general managers for their squads.” ACHA standards must also be met in terms of player grade point averages (2.0 required); minimum credits carried each semester, matching equipment and uniforms, payment of dues, hours of ice-time and discipline. The ACHA generally plays NCAA rules with a few modifications. Moran noted that “the ACHA itself came from a desire to encourage the growth of opportunities for hockey players to continue to play regardless of where they were going to school. While NCAA schools offer some opportunities the vast majority of NCAA players are looking to professional careers while our club players simply want to play a sport they love while they work on their degrees and future careers.” Contact the author at Phil.Brand@prohockeynews.com
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